Foldable table set



. 2 2,282,296 F. HOLLENTONDER, NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE May 5, 1942.

OF NAME FRANK HOLLENTON FOLDABLE TABLE SET Filed Nov. '7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet1' 9 R w m M m m V N n 5 .1 A H l a n a M M f w m 5 a \x l [2 2 2 May 5,1942. 2. 2 2,282,296

F. HOLLENTQNDER, NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME F-RANK HOLLENTON FOLDABLE TABLE SET Filed Nov. 7, 1938 2 Sheets-She't- ATTORNEYS,

Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED FOLDABLE TABLE SET Frank Hollentonder, Bridgeport, Conn; now by judicial change of name Frank Hollenton Application November 7, 1938, Serial No. 239,251

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a foldable table set comprising a table construction which may be opened to form a table to be used in the ordinary manner and then folded into a relatively small sized package for easy transportation in a car and carried, and including a set of stools or chairs which may be folded into a substantially flat condition and enclosed within the folded table construction so that they will not occupy any room outside the table and the table and chairs may be carried as a single package.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved and simplified construction of the table and the chairs to accomplish the foregoing results.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved construction and arrangement of such a set whereby the whole set may be folded and assembled into a very small package for easy v transportation.

Another object is to provide an improved construction whereby the hinge means for mounting the supporting legs for the table when collapsed into the folded table will retain the folded chairs or stools within the table.

Still another object is to provide an improved handle construction which will when carrying the package have equal support on the different sections but when the table is set up will automatically move to a position out of sight under or within the table.

With the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised an improved construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood, however, that various changes and modifications may be employed within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the set folded and in condition for carrying as a single package;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the table showing it set up for use as such;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the package or set opened up from the condition of Fig. 1 and showing the chairs or stools assembled within the sections of the table;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a portion thereof substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the stools or chairs set up in condition for use, parts being broken away to more clearly show the construction;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a chair in folded condition;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of the upper portion of the chair showing how the parts move to collapse the chair;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the chair folded;

Fig. 10 is a detail section substantially along the line Ill-10 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a side view on an enlarged scale of the hinge mounting for the legs, a portion of the top being shown in section;

Fig. 12 is a similar view looking from the right of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view looking toward the bottom of Fig. 12; i

Fig. 14 is an enlarged View of a portion of the carrying handle showing it shifted to the position it occupies when the table is set up and the handle is not used as a carrying means;

Fig. 15 is a view looking from the right of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is a transverse section through the top edge portion of the folded set showing the handle in the carrying position.

This set comprises a table made in two sections hinged together so that they can be folded to lie side by side to form a closed case similar in appearance to a suit case, and can be as readily carried, and the sections form shallow compartments into which the supporting legs may be folded, and also each of which may hold a pair of collapsed chairs or stools which are effectively retained in position during carrying and as the set is opened up preparatory to setting up. This table with the chairs thus is foldable into a minimum of space and may be readily carried by one person, and it may also be readily carried in the trunk space or otherwise in an automobile and carried for picnic or camping purposes.

The table comprises two sections Ill each comprising a frame including side members H and I2 and end members l3 suitably connected together. These are preferably of wood of sufficient cross section to give a strong rigid construction. In the present instance they are recessed at the inner top edges as indicated at [4 to receive the top panel I5 which may be wood of multiple ply construction, or a composition board, or any other material having the desired strength and freedom from warping. It will be ing legs and. a set of folded stools or chairs as Will presently be described.

The two side members H of the frame when the table is in the set up or open position lie side by side as shown in Fig. 4, and these two sections it are hinged together so that they may be folded to lie side by side With the open sides of the compartments facing each other asshown in Figs. l and 2 Fig. 3 shows a portion of the table in the set up or Open position and as the hinge connection between the sections is at the under or lower sides of the members H it will be evident that when various articles are sup-- ported on the table or even with the weight of the table alone there is considerable strain on the hinges. I therefore meet this condition and am able to use largestrong hinges by a novel construction. At the inner side of each of the end members 13 I place a reenforcing bar it which is securely fastened to the end member i3 by any suitable means such for. example as screws I1, and extends to the inner side of the member H. I then secure hinges l8. comprising, long strong plates [9. to these reenforcing members l3. as shown in Fig. 4. It will be :seen' that this permits the use of. large strong. hinges. and the longplates permit the use of sufiicient'screws 20. to securely mount the hinges and effectively withstand the weight of the table and the articles which may be placed. thereon when the table is set up.

The table is supported on four. legs 2.1 hinged to, the sections, Iii" adjacent their outer corners. These legs are so attached to the sections that they. may fold into the. sections when the table is folded up for carrying, but when extendedto the'upright and supporting. position are securely braced "in all directions so .as to make a strong rigid support for the table and with no danger of the legs collapsing duringuse. This improved mounting; is also employed toretain the chairs or stool within the sections of the table when the'table. is folded. This improved table leg mounting is shown more clearly in Figs. 4, 11, 12 and l3. It comprises a metal. frame or strap 27 of; general angularshape secureddnthe outer corners of the section lllby fastenin tothe frame members I2 and I3 by any-suitable'means such as screws 23-. It will be seen this bracket or frame also helps to secure-the frame members I2 and-i3 together at the cornerand in effect stiffen the frame. tofon'e of the side arms of this bracketas indic ated at z l whiich is the arm secured to the outer or longitudinalframe member l2; and there is a toggle orlinked brace 25 connecting this leg to the free end portionof thearin 23 of, the bracket to which theleg is. pivoted. This tq glebrace comprises two sections 21 and 28,.pivoted ,together at 23, and the section 21 is-piyoted to theleg 2| an andthe section 2 a is pivotedto thearm 2t ofv bracket at,3l. At-itsinner end one; of these mem e -e s pro de wi h ate l-1 1a qr c s e d e. f he ther. m m er 5 r t p e n r henarts. ldi gard nd o ho d he mem er ll. flzwhcn heieg; in h su e fine si ion; a; sub tantial tr i ht n o W t thc rivet-1 figz li htly beyond ne. oin n h piv ts it. a w rdt e Ri et. 4,. ow ecurei he upe fine le. e i ct. Al o o ta e elemen se his positioncne l memher .as... 8;. m y. e rov dcd, with a d tcnt ..o. r cess v3511p.. e eivers. is. orbiimn r 5 The table leg 2 is pivoted Qm he.mem er '.'W 6. f .t11y a einltheexienaed 75,

position to hold these elements in that position but permit them to be collapsed when desired to fold the leg into the table section. This effectively braces the leg in one plane which is parallel to the member 52 of the table top frame. In the other direction or at right angles to the frame member [2 there is provided another brace 35. This is secured to the leg 2! by any suitable means such as the screws 3 .3 on the side of the leg extending transversely of the side to Which the brace is connected. At its other end this brace is bent at substantially right angles to form a lug 31 and is pivoted to a similarly bent lug 38 on the end of the arm 22 of the bracket andv extending inwardly at right angles thereto.

The two lugs 31' and 33 are pivoted together at 39 which pivot is in alignment with the pivot 24 for the. leg 2!. This permit the table leg to swing aboutthe pivot 23 the bracing arm 35 swinging with it about. its pivot 39, but at the same time. this. brace 35 effectively. braces the legin a plane at. right angles. to the. brace 25. Therefore. it will, be seen that the table. legwhen inthe. upright. or supporting position islefiective- 1y braced: in all directions. The brace 35 also performs a second function. and. that .i of re.- taining thefolded. stools or chairs in the tabletop compartments as will I presently. be. described.

Itis desirable in order) that the table. may. be folded to a minimum thickness and: thus occupy a minimum of space that the stools: or. chair be foldable to-a completely flat condition,.and it is also desirable that they be of light weight. soias to. facilitate carrying, but they should. be strong and rigid to properly support the weight of. the party using it. is shown more-clearly inFi'gs. Gatoil; It com:- prises two pairs of legs mic: and 41 theileg's of each pair being suitably spacedand one-leg i'il' of each pair is pivoted to the other leg 41 of theqother pair intermediate their. lengthsas indicated at 42; The outer pair of. legs A r-are connected by a transverse brace l3:and the inner pair of legs areconnected. by atransverse brace M) both braces 43 and M being-belowxtheipivots in. The top-or-seat 45 is preferablymad of sheet metal, although it may be of othermaterial, having downwardly extending-flanges 4'6 on. three sides. Theupper ends of the outer legs iiare hinged to this flange adjacent the rear edge of'this top or seat as indicated at (H. The upper ends of the inner legs-46 are connected. bya cross bar- 68" but are not'secured to'the-seat member 45. They are merely located under-the seatmember so.

that when thelegsare-inthe --openposition as shown in Fig.- 6: the-tops of these: legs and the bar -48 are under the forward edge of the seat member 45 to support it. To yieldingly retain these members in this positionaspring tongue 49 extends downwardly and inwardlyirom the'front edge of theseat member dhand jmay;grip-"the cross bar 43* to ho1d-it "ina the-position; of Fig; 6 during normal 1 use, but by exerting inward pressure on the upper member ti the bar t may be forced inwardly (yr-released -fromthis spring grip as indicated in Fig. 8, permittingtheiegs Alland 41 .to be folded into thesameplaneend a sideby side position as shown in Figs. Mandi-9. After the legsarefolded into .thisjpositionrthe top'p45 maybe .folded; about; the: pivotsfil intmthe same plane as he l s as n ica ed nfi l lin s Fi with; thetcnz r ody. tion. ofr hes cmher .5 ying..a ainst one-. deeof r he lecsfiflvand i and with the flange 46 lying along side the outerside The. construction Ofi these stools of the leg 4|. It will thus be seen the stool is folded into a perfectly flat position and occupies a minimum space and can be easily set up to the position of Fig. 6 and will be effectively held in this position against collapse when in use.

These stools are so proportioned that when in the collapsed or folded positions two of them may be placed in the compartment of each of the sections In as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. It will be seen in Fig. 4 that they are placed in this compartment with one set of each of the pairs of legs 40 and 4| of each stool extending under the cross bars 43 and 44 of the other stool and therefore they hold each other within th compartment. It will also be seen that the supporting legs 2| are so mounted as to fold into these compartments to a position along and parallel with and at the inner side of the outer frame member |2 with the two legs lying side by side. To permit this one of the legs as 2| a is mounted with s the bracket 22 secured to the frame members I2 and I3. This permits the leg to be folded closely adjacent the frame member l2. The other leg 2| b at the opposite corner is mounted by the same sort of hinge bracket but instead of the bracket 22 being secured to the frame member l2 a separate or frame member 50 is secured at the inner side of the fram member l2 and the bracket 22 is secured to the inner side of this member and the frame member l3. It will be seen this arrangement locates the leg 2 lb inwardly from the frame member l2 so that it may be folded into the compartment into the plane of the folded leg 2 la but somewhat inwardly of the same. This permits using a thinner construction of table top section. It will be seen, however, that in both cases the brace 35 extends over a corner of the folded stool or chair, in this case a corner of the top or seat member 45, and thus when the stools are placed in the compartment with a pair of the legs 40 and 4| of each under the cross bars 43 and 44 of the other as indicated in Fig. 4 the table legs may then be folded down into the compartment to the position of Fig. 4.

This folding of the legs down into the compart+ ment carries the braces 35 to a position overlying the corner portion of each of the stools. Therefore the coaction of these braces and the more or less interlocking of the leg members of the chairs and the cross members 43 and 44 effectively retain these stools or chairs in the compartments and they cannot be removed until the chair legs 2| are swung from the folded position. This is important in that When the free edges of the sections ID are lifted to fold them toward each other to close the case there is no danger of the stools falling out to interfere with this closing and there is also no danger of them falling out when the sections are opened preparatory to setting up the device until the user is ready to remove them from the sections.

There is also provided an improved handle or carrying means shown more clearly in Figs. 14, 15 and 16. This comprises a metal plate pivoted or hinged at one edge to the under side of One outer frame member I2 as indicated at 52, there being one of these pivots or hinges at each end of the plate 5|, although only that of one end is shown in Figs. 14 to 16. This permits the plate to swing from the position within the frame and compartment of the table section and out of sight as shown in full lines in Figs. 14 and 15 but permits the plate 5| to swing to a position at the inner side of and. parallel with the frame members l2 as indicated in dotted lines Fig. 15 and full lines Fig. 16. It will therefore be seen that this plate in this position overlaps both frame members 12 in the two sections l0 of the table. Secured to this plate 5| is a pair of supporting members 53 comprising heavy Wire or rod each secured at its inner end to the plate 5| as shown at 54, and having a shank equal in length to about the thickness of the frame members l2 and bent at its outer end into a loop or eye 55 there being one adjacent each end of the plate 5|, and then the carrying handle 56 is secured at its opposite ends to these eyes 55. Thus when the plate 5| is in the dotted line position of Fig. 15 or the position shown in Fig. 16 its shank extends through aligned notches 51 in the edges of the frame members |2 so that the handle 56 is at the outside. Then as the two sections I!) are folded together and secured by the two clasps 58 or other suitable securing and locking means the plate 5| lies under the two frame members I2. It will thus be seen that both these frame members and therefore both of the sections In of the table are equally supported and in the same manner by the plate 5| so that there is no more supporting strain on one section than on the other but both are equally and effectively supported. It is also preferred that when the legs 2|a are folded into the compartments they will lie on the inner side of the plate 5| and hold it in the extended position of Figs. 4 and 16. I also prefer to provide on each of the hinges 52 a spring 59 tending to swing the plate 5| from the carrying position to the full line positions of Figs. 14 and 15 within the table top compartment. Thus as soon as the table is opened up and the legs swung to their supporting positions the plate 5| and the carrying handle are automatically swung by the spring in under the table top where it is out of sight and also out of the way.

It will be seen that his table set may be folded and assembled into a minimum of space for effective transportation in a car or other vehicle and may be easily carried in one hand to any desired location and then may be easily and quickly set up to give a strong rigid table construction with a full set of strong stools or chairs for use with the table.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination a foldable table including a top comprising a pair of hingedly connected sections, each section including a frame comprising side and end members and a top panel forming an open sided compartment, stools each having a sheet metal top and two pairs of legs pivoted together and one pair to the top and the other pair arranged to detachably engage the top, said legs being foldable into a single plane with the top along one side thereof so as to be placed in said compartments, said legs having cross members connecting the legs of each pair and when the stools are in the compartments adapted to be arranged with legs of each stool extending under a cross member of another stool so as to retain each other in the compartment, supporting legs for the table hinged to the sections adjacent the outer corners thereof and foldable into the compartments to lie side by side, and the hinge connection for each leg including an inclined brace connected to the leg and pivoted to its section and lying over the outer end portion of a stool when'the leg is so folded to retain the stools in the compartment.

2. In combination a foldable table including I a top comprising apair of hingedly connected sections, each section including a frame comprising side and end members and a to panel forming an open sided compartment, stools foldable into a substantially flat condition so as to be placed in the compartments and each having pairs of legs hinged together, cross members connecting each pair of legs and so arranged that when two stools are placed in a compartment at least some of the legs of each stoolwill extend under a cross member of the other stool,

supporting legs for the table hinged to the sections adjacent the outer corners thereof and foldable into the compartments to lie side by side, and the hinge connection for each leg inpartment to retain the stool in the compartment.

3. In combination a foldable table including a top comprising a pair of hingedly connected sections, each section including a frame comprising side and end members and a top panel forming an open sided compartment, stools foldof the frame at the corner, means pivoting the 

